A couple of weeks back as restrictions were lifted, we decided to take a break from our WFH situation and spend a nice and quiet weekend in Tagaytay. We really didn't book/reserve anything in advance aside from our AirBnb because we weren't sure about restrictions so when it came down to where we had to eat, we were doomed. We went to the usuals--Balay Dako, Antonio's but both were booked to the brim. We headed to Sonya's because the place still comes highly recommended online. I'm pretty sure their menu had changed because we weren't as satisfied with the food as we were before. I believe it's their pandemic menu, but the service was terrible :( We left the place feeling full but not satisfied.
As we were driving home, we thought we'd have coffee. I searched googled and most of the recommended places were again more of the popular ones. But this cafe came up in one of the blogs I was reading. It was a little far from the usual busy district so we thought, hey why not. We're so glad we did because this place is a dream!
THE PLACE
Upon going down, we were already vibing with the place. With all the waiting and driving we had to do queueing for a place to eat, we're just glad this place was spacious enough even for parking. No waiting, no maneuvering tiny ass pathways, it was spacious and it was a treat given how crowded Tagaytay can get during the weekends. Upon coming in, not only was I in awe of how luscious greens surrounded the place, I was engulfed in the healing energy of plants.
I know some people come to this place because of the rare plants, but I'm not one to really look at tags. I was more focused on the calming energy the place had. Imagine being surrounded by all these plants! The place was quaintly decorated; they even had a small private room if you want to dine in intimately with your party. All tables were socially distanced and it felt like dining inside the forest. To top all that, did I mention the place is also pet-friendly? We had our beagle with us while dining. They even gave her cold water because she was feeling a little hot.
THE FOOD
We didn't order a lot because as mentioned, we already had our lunch someplace else. We had the USDA Angus Tapsilog, Carbonara, Mozzarella Sticks and a couple of things from their iced coffee selection. Nothing really stood out from the coffee we had, but the food was great. We were unsure in the beginning if it was really good or we were just too unsatisfied with the place where we had lunch that everything that came after immediately was a delight lol. But no, several of us had to taste test and the food was indeed good. Star of the show for us was the Tapa--the beef was so tender and flavorful and perfectly served with a side of pickled vegetables.
The carbonara was okay; not the best but it was okay. I found it a bit too salty more than creamy. The pancetta on the carbonara however is a different story. I rarely see carbonara being served with pancetta because the Filipino version uses sweet ham, so plus points for using real pancetta.
Will we go back? Definitely. I'm already looking forward to visiting the place again and hopefully next time I will have more space in my tummy to try some of their other dishes. If you're ever in Tagaytay, give the place and hopefully you can feel the same healing energy I felt when I first stepped into this lovely greenhouse.
Ochi is a twenty-something Corporate Trainer who loves to cook, take photos and videos of her food, eat and travel. On weekends, she's either drunk or snuggling in bed watching her favorite crime drama. 
